Enacts GS 115C-105.57, establishing the School Safety Grant Fund (Fund) in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to be administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education (State Board). Directs that the Fund is to be used to award grants to local administrative units to improve school safety. Requires DPI to award grants to local administrative units based upon the recommendations of the Task Force for Safer Schools (Task Force). Details the application information required to be submitted to the Task Force for a grant. Requires the Task Force to establish criteria to assess and prioritize applications, considering at a minimum: (1) the overall demonstrated need, (2) the level of resources available to the local administrative unit, (3) whether the local administrative unit has received other grants or funding for school safety resources, and (4) the overall impact on student safety if the identified needs were funded. Limits a grant awarded to $750,000. Requires DPI to submit an annual report on or before March 1 to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division detailing the grants issued.

Amends GS 115C-105.56, directing the Task Force to make formal recommendations based upon applications submitted to DPI in its administration of the Fund pursuant to new GS 115C-105.57.

Notwithstanding GS 143C-5-2 regarding the order of appropriations bills, amends Section 5.3(a) of SL 2017-57 (Appropriations Act of 2017) to appropriate $70 million from the Education Lottery Fund to the School Safety Grant Program for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Makes conforming changes.

Effective July 1, 2018.